The Right Honourable The Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws LT KC FRSA HonFRSE
Official portrait, 2025
Chancellor ofSheffield Hallam University
In office 26 July 2018 – 8 May 2025
Preceded by	Robert Winston, Baron Winston
Succeeded by	Uriah Rennie
Principal ofMansfield College, Oxford
In office September 2011 – 2018
Preceded by	Diana Walford
Succeeded by	Helen Mountfield
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 October 1997 Life peerage
Personal details
Born	Helena Ann Kennedy (1950-05-12)12 May 1950 (age 75) Glasgow, Scotland
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Iain Louis Hutchison ​ ​ (m. 1986)​
Domestic partner	Iain Mitchell (1978–1984)
Children	3
Occupation	Barrister television presenter
Website	helenakennedy.co.uk

Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (born 12 May 1950), is a Scottishbarrister,broadcaster, andLabour member of theHouse of Lords. She wasPrincipal ofMansfield College, Oxford, from 2011 to 2018. Abencher ofGray's Inn, an Honorary Writer to the Signet and the recipient of 42honorary degrees from many universities including those of Glasgow and Edinburgh in recognition of work on women and the law and on widening participation in higher education. She is president ofJustice, the law reform think tank, and director of theInternational Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI). In 2024, Kennedy succeededLord Neuberger of Abbotsbury as chair of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom.^[1][2]

Kennedy was born on 12 May 1950 inGlasgow, Scotland, one of the four daughters of Mary Veronica (née Jones) and Joshua Patrick Kennedy, nicknamed "Mae" and "Joss", respectively.^[3] Her parents were committedLabour activists and devoutlyCatholic.^[4] Her father, who served for six years in theBritish Armed Forces duringWorld War II,^[5] was a printer with theDaily Record and atrade union official,^[4] and her mother, who worked in agrocery store,^[6] volunteered to help women who suffered fromdomestic violence oralcoholism in the family.^[5]

She attendedHolyrood Secondary School in Glasgow, where she was appointed Head Girl. After applying unsuccessfully for a degree in English at theLondon School of Economics in 1968 and taking a gap year on the advice of her interviewerBill Wedderburn,^[4][6] she studied law at theCouncil of Legal Education inLondon.^[4]

In 1972, Kennedy was called to the bar atGray's Inn. In 1974, with the help of a loan, she co-founded Garden Court Chambers (initially 7 Stone Buildings) atLincoln's Inn with two female and three male colleagues,^[5][4][7] including Michael House,^[8] Marguerite Russell^[9] and David Watkinson.^[10] Among her many cases, Kennedy acted as junior counsel for child murdererMyra Hindley during her 1974 trial for plotting to escape fromHolloway Prison,^[6][11] and was involved as a barrister in the1984 Brighton hotel bombing trial in 1986 and in the successfulGuildford Four appeal in 1989.^[6] She moved toDoughty Street Chambers in 1990.^[4]

She was a member of theGeneral Council of the Bar from 1990 to 1993^[4] and was appointed aQueen's Counsel in 1991.^[12]

Kennedy was a member of theCommunist Party of Great Britain during the early 1970s, which she later regretted.^[4] She gained wider recognition with her appearances on radio shows, includingBBC Radio 4'sWoman's Hour, in the 1980s.^[5]

She served as thechair ofCharter 88 from 1992 to 1997,^[4] and became closely affiliated to the educational charityCommon Purpose.

She was a high-profile supporter ofTony Blair'sNew Labour during the 1990s.^[4][13] She was made alife peer in October 1997 on account of her role as chair of Charter 88, whoseconstitutional reform policies had been adopted by the Labour Party,^[4] and joined the party on the same day.^[14] Following her appointment, she became a prominent critic of the party's direction,^[4][13] although she wrote in 2008 that thefirst Blair ministry "produced more far-reaching reforms than anything seen since theGreat Reform Act" of 1832.^[15] She has rebelled against herparty whip in theHouse of Lords more frequently than any other Labour peer, with a dissent rate of 11.5% as of 2025.^[16]

In May 2009, in reaction to theUnited Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal, she launched the campaign for areferendum on a "moreproportional electoral system" atthe following election with anopen letter inThe Guardian,^[17][18] which eventually led to the2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum. She was subsequently reported to be organising a coalition ofindependent candidates to run in the election against the MPs involved in the expenses scandal, who included members of her own party, but denied the allegation.^[18]

In April 2017, she led the open letter call forJeremy Corbyn's Labour Party to stand down its candidates in the seats ofBrighton Pavillion and theIsle of Wight in favour of theGreen Party at the2017 general election, following two similar concessions by the Green Party.^[19]

In 2020, she worked with theConservative MPIain Duncan Smith and democracy activistLuke de Pulford to create the global pressure groupInter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.^[20] In March 2021, China placed sanctions on her.^[21] The sanctions were condemned by the Prime Minister and led the Foreign Secretary to summon the Chinese ambassador.^[22][23]

Kennedy became the first chancellor ofOxford Brookes University, serving from 1994 until 2001.

In 1998, she agreed to lend her name toAnn Limb's charitable initiative to fund higher education for disadvantaged students, which became the Helena Kennedy Foundation.^[5]

She was electedprincipal ofMansfield College,Oxford, in July 2010 and served in the role from September 2011.^[24] She retired in 2018 and became chancellor ofSheffield Hallam University on 26 July 2018.^[25]

From 1978 to 1984 she lived with the actor Iain Mitchell, and together they had a son (Keir Kennedy Mitchell who is a personal trainer). In 1986, Kennedy married Iain Louis Hutchison, asurgeon, with whom she has a daughter (Clio Kennedy Hutchison, a doctor) and a son (Roland Kennedy Hutchison, a film director). She has five grandchildren.^[4]

Kennedy regularly attends Mass and professes that herCatholicism "remains very much part of who I am", even though she eschews its more traditional values.^[4]

In 2023, Kennedy took part inKing Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation atWestminster Abbey, carrying theQueen Consort's Rod with Dove.^[26]

She has received numerous awards, including:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
• Fellow of theCity and Guilds of London Institute (FCGI)
• Member of theAcadémie Universelle des Cultures (Paris)
• Honorary Fellow,Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2005
• Honorary Fellow,Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2005
• Honorary Fellow, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
• Honorary Fellow,Lucy Cavendish College,University of Cambridge, 2010^[27]
• Honorary Fellow,School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), 2011
• Honorary Doctorate of Law,Plymouth University, 2012^[28]
• Honorary Fellow of theRoyal Society of Edinburgh (HonFRSE), 2014^[29]
• She was recognized as one of theBBC's 100 Women of 2021.^[30]
• She was chosen to carry the Queen's Rod in the Royal Procession at theCoronation of Charles III and Camilla.^[31]
• She was appointed as a Lady of theMost Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (LT) by KingCharles III in 2024.^[32][33]

• Creator:Blind Justice, BBC TV, 1987
• Presenter:Heart of the Matter, BBC TV, 1987
• After Dark, Channel 4 and BBC4, 1987–2003
  • Kennedy presented manyeditions of this series, including the 1991 "Do Men Have To Be Violent" featuring an inebriatedOliver Reed who verbally insulted and attempted to kiss feministKate Millett, as well as the 1995 special "Ireland: Sex & Celibacy, Church & State" which included an unscheduled last-minute appearance from singerSinéad O'Connor.
• Presenter:Raw Deal on Medical Negligence, BBC TV, 1989
• Presenter:The Trial of Lady Chatterley's Lover,BBC Radio 4, 1990
• Presenter:Time Gentlemen, Please, BBC Scotland, 1994 (Winner, Television Programme Award category, 1994 Industrial Journalism Awards)

• President of Council (formerly Chair^[34]),JUSTICE^[35]
• Director,International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)^[36]
• Chair, High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom (2024–)^[37]
• Member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom^[38]
• Member of theWorld Bank Institute's External Advisory Council (1998–2005)^[39]
• Member of theInternational Bar Association's Task Force on Terrorism (2001–2003)^[40]
• Former member of theForeign Policy Centre's Advisory Council
• Former board member of theInstitute for Strategic Dialogue (2010)^[41][42]
• Co-director (with Kate Mallinson), Future of Russia Foundation (2016–2019)^[a][43]
• Commissioner, CIBA Commission on Child Sexual Abuse within the Family (sponsored by theCIBA Foundation, 1981–1983)^[40]
• Commissioner,BAFTA Inquiry into the future of the BBC, 1990–1993^[44]
• Commissioner, National Commission on Education (NCE, sponsored byPaul Hamlyn Foundation, 1991–1994)^[45][36][40]
• Chair, Widening Participation Committee,Further Education Funding Council (1994–1997)^[46][45]
• Chair,Reading Borough Council's Commission of Inquiry into the health, environmental and safety aspects of the Atomic Weapons Establishment atAldermaston (final reportSecrecy versus Safety, published in 1994)
• Chair,Howard League's Commission of Inquiry into Violence in Penal Institutions for Young People (the final report,Banged Up, Beaten Up, Cutting Up, published in 1995)
• Chair,Royal Colleges of Pathologists' andof Paediatrics' Inquiry intoSudden Infant Death (producing a protocol for the investigation of such deaths in 2004)
• Commission Chair of thePower Inquiry (November 2005 – March 2006)^[b][47]
• Chair ofPower 2010 (extending the Power Inquiry to the2010 general election)
• Commissioner,Government Commission on a British Bill of Rights (2010)^[36]

• Chancellor ofOxford Brookes University (1993–2001)^[4]
• Chair,British Council (1998–2004)
• Chair,Human Genetics Commission (1998–2007)
• President of the Board the Governors of theSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, 2002–2012)^[48][4]
• Chair of the Board of Governors for theUnited World College of the Atlantic (2005–2009)^[49][42]
• Chancellor ofSheffield Hallam University (2018–2025)^[50]
• Vice-president of theHaldane Society of Socialist Lawyers (since at least 1986^[51])^[52]
• Vice-president of the Association of Women Barristers

• Chair of the board of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA, established byHeather Rabbatts, 2024–)^[36][53]
• Trustee,The Tablet Trust^[41][54]
• Trustee,KPMG Foundation
• Trustee,Media Standards Trust (2006–2015)^[41][42]
• Member of the board ofHampstead Theatre (1986–1991)^[36]
• Member of the board ofNew Statesman and Society (1990s)^[40]
• Member of the board ofIndependent News and Media (1998–2010)^[42][41]
• Member of the board of theBritish Museum (2004–2012)^[36][39]

• President, Helena Kennedy Foundation (1998–)^[36]
• Co-director (with David Sagal),Clooney Foundation for Justice (2025–)^[42]
• President of theNational Children's Bureau (1998–2005)
• President,Women of the Year Lunch (2010–2015)^[55]
• Chair,Booker Prize Foundation (2015–2020)^[56]
• Former Vice President of theCampaign for Homosexual Equality (from 2017)^[57]
• Honorary Patron and former President,Medical Aid for Palestinians^[58][44]
• Patron (formerly Chair, 1991–1998^[36] or 1994–2002^[40]),London International Festival of Theatre^[59]
• Council member,Howard League for Penal Reform (1992–2002)^[40]
• Member of the advisory board,International Centre for Prison Studies^[41]
• Patron,Burma Campaign UK, the London-based group campaigning for human rights and democracy inBurma
• Patron,upReach, a UK social mobility charity that supports undergraduates from low income backgrounds pursuing competitive graduate careers.^[60]
• Patron,Public Law Project^[61]
• Patron,Institute for Learning (IfL)
• Patron,Liberty
• Patron,UNLOCK, The National Association of Ex-Offenders
• Patron, Debt Doctors Foundation UK (DD-UK)
• Patron,Tower Hamlets Summer University
• Patron,Rights Watch (UK)
• Patron ofSafeHands for Mothers, a UK-based charity whose mission is to improve maternal and newborn health by harnessing the power of the visual, through the production of films.^[62]
• Patron of The Death Penalty Project

• Created alife peer asBaroness Kennedy of The Shaws, ofCathcart in the City of Glasgow on 27 October 1997.^[63]
• Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic on 23 March 2004.^[64]
• Commander of theOrder of Academic Palms (2006).

• Eve was Framed: Women and British Justice, 1993;ISBN 0-09-922441-0
• Legal Conundrums in Our Brave New World, 1994;ISBN 0421851902 (based on the 54thHamlyn Lectures)
• Just Law: The Changing Face of Justice and Why It Matters to Us, 2004;ISBN 0-09-945833-0
• Eve Was Shamed: How British Justice Is Failing Women, 2018;ISBN 9781784742225
• Misjustice: How British Law is Failing Women, 2019;ISBN 9781784707682
• Misogyny: A Human Rights Issue, 2022;ISBN 9781802017571

• Debrett's People of Today
• Helena Kennedy's home page
• Power Commission
• Helena Kennedy Foundation
• "Helena Kennedy Foundation, registered charity no. 1074025".Charity Commission for England and Wales.

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